Assionor to the cutler-hammer



C. J. KLEIN.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED IUNEB. 191|.

Pntentcd June 17, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

JIUM

nlmmlzcrrrE-E C. J. KLEIN.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED IUIIES. IQII.

1,306,852. meneame 17, 1919,

I@ :II II O II- III o II III 0 II zy @i if Fig. 4.

AUNITED STATES PATENT oFFIoE, y

CHARLES J. KLEIN, 0F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO THE CU'IlLER-IBIAIMM` MFG. CO., OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

,State of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Electric Switches, Of which the followingis a full, clear, concise, and eXact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification. v

My invention relates to eleotricswitches. In one of its adaptations it'more especially relates to electric switches of the type known as battery switches, andit is in this.

relation that I shall describe my invention. However my invention is not limited to' this particular use or to the particular form chosen for'purposes of illustration, but may assume various other forms and be used in variousother relations.

.Among the objects of my invention'is to provide an improved switch. A further ob- ]ect of my invention is to provide improved means for supporting and inclosin an electricv switch fand' a pluralityotg electric switches. Other objects and advantages ofl my improved construction will hereinafter ap ear.`

n the views of the drawings Figure 1,shows a sectional central view through an assembled .switch mechanism.

Fig. 2 shows a secti0nal`view on line 2 2A Fig. Y

Fig. 3 shows a sectional view von line 3-3` Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 shows a top plan view of a series of switches assembled in'a gang.

Fig. 5 shows a bottom' plan view of the Fig. 6 shows a development of a blank used Ato position the switch mechanisms in a gang and to provide a top plate for the same.

, Fig. 7 shows a sectional view on line7-7 Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 shows a sectional viewon line l8 8 Fig-9 shows a sectional view on line 9-9 Fig. 6.

l' Inthe construction shown in these drawings a push and-pull cam operatedv snap switch mechanism is inclosed between theI parts of a suitable casing andfarrang'ed to be actuated to make or' break an electrical specification o f Letters Parent. Patented June 17, 1919 I Application filed .Tune 8, v

1911. serial 1ro. 631,921.

circuit with a quick snap action4 when the y cam is pulled in or out. 1 The switch mechanism is preferably 'of the type described and claimed in my previously granted Patent No. 985,421 patented February 28, 1911. A cam member 1 of the conformation `of a double frustum positioned vbase to base is carried by a reduced portion 2 of a reciprocating spindlel 3. The spindle -3 1s provided with a push button' or knob 4 on its lupper end and is provided with a.

- longitudinally extending recess or bore 5 in its lower end arranged to receive the end of a pin 6 extending. verticallv upward from a suitable insulating base 7, preferably of molded stone, and positioned inthe same by suitable washers 8. TheA cam member 1 is preferably provided with a central bore of a greater diameter. than the diameter of the reduced portion'2 of the spindle 3, and this cam member lis lpreferably insulated from the reduced portion 2 by spacing Washers 9 at its opposite ends'. the upperend of the cam member 1 which abuts against the spindle 3 is also insulated from this portion of the spindle. The spin .ciprocate upon the.pin 6 between the base 7 and a top plate 10 by which the entire switch unit may be supported. The top plate 10 and base 7 are secured together by suitable'screws '11 'preferably having their ,heads received in suitable-recesses in the base. In order to receive the lower end of the cam' member-'1 'when the spindle 3 is pushed in, the base7 is provided with a chamber 12 of substantially'cylindrical cross section preferably taperingv toward the mouth. `The bottom of this chamber serves to establish one of the limits of travel 'of tle cam member. The other limit of travel of the cam member is established by -the upper end with the walls' 13 in the plate l0 throu h which the spin- '-dle extends. In a pre erred form the upper surface of the plate 10 around the perforation 1 3 is lprovided with a plate 14 having depending bent arms 15 passing through suitable perforations in the plate 10.

' When the cam member is reciprocated upon a pull or pressure being exerted upon the knob 4, it is arranged to-reciprocate' a contactor 16 preferably of the type of con- In a preferred form' dle 3 and cam member are arranged .to re-' engagement of the insulating washer on its of a perforation struction describedin my co-pending application Serial No. 628,782 filed May 22, 1911,

upon which' Patent 1,162,865, issued Dec. 7,.

1915'. In this instance however, I prefer'- ably provide this contactor with an 'insulating spacing strip A17. Within the contactor is inclosed a garter spring 18.which when the cam member is reciprocated passes over the' crest of the cam member to throw the .contactor -to one or the other limit of itsi travel with a quick snap action. The upper limit of the travel of' thecontactor, that is the open circuit limit, is preferably established by bending down two arms 1 9 on each.

side ofthe perforation 13. These arms 19 are preferably struck from-the plate 10 and are adapted to engage the top and bottom of the body portion of the contactor 16 at points adjacent the curved rearwardly eX- tending portions of the same. In its other 'Y eted to terminal plates 22 on the under side ofthe Ibase. In a preferred form the terminals 20 are each provided with two depending legs which pass through opposite ends of the platesl 22 and a binding screw 23 is placedbetween these legs 21 and provided with suitable ears 24 to facilitate-the -conne'ctionof the conductors. If desired the walls ofthe chamber 12 may be grooved to,

receive the terminal contacts 2O so that the erminal contacts are lirmly seated o the ase.

In a ypreferredv form the entire mechanism housed between the plate 10,and thev insulating base 7 is inclosed in an oval metallic shell 25 so that the assembled switch presents a very neat and compact appearance While the parts are fully protected from injury. In order to make the construction readily assembled I- preferably so shape the plate 10 and the shell 25 that they maybe readily pressed into assembled relation'.

This I do by making the shell of a width substantially the same as the width. of the plate 10 through the arms 19so that there will be a snug fit and I further provide the plate with downwardly struck shoulders 25a on its four corners which lit snugly within the shelland e'ectually prevent movement of the plate. If desired the oval shell 25 may be provided with a suitable cut away portion in its edge opposite the. end walls of the recess 12 so 'as to insure a snug lit and its edges may also engage suitable shoulders on Ithe plate 10 and the ybase 7. It .is of course obvious that a suitable face plate may be carried uponthe upper surface of the plate 10.

When it is desired to operate the switch the button `4 is pushed in or out. With the parts in the position shown in Fig. l the button would be pushed in-and" the circuit would be broken upon the passage ofthe cam member through :the garter spring, since the moment that the` garter spring passed over the crest of the cam the contactor would be thrown to the up position with itsbody portion abutting 'against the stops 19.. Upon a reversal of the movement of the push button or knob the contactor would move downward to .circuit closing position where its limit of travel would be established by the engagement ofits spacing strip 17 with the upper surfaces of the terminals It is to be noted that when the contactor reaches the downposition, the cam member engages the edges of the perforation 13 substantially simultaneously, and that when the contactor is moved to the up position the contactor reaches this positionk at substantially the "same time that the cam member engages against the bottom vof the chamber 12'.- Further it is to be noted that thepush button or knob 4 is insulated from the operating mechanism in such a manner that `no shock can be transmitted to the operator. 0n account of the'prov'ision of the insulating spacing strip in the vcontactor the current is not permitted to pass through the spring so that theflife of the parts is accordingly increased, and the -parts which convey 4the current are of such a construc- -tion thatthey arewell able to withstand high currents and voltages if ldesired.

InFig. 4 I' have illustrated an improved means for mounting a plurality of switches -in, gang form. The switches find wide use in A'this particular form whenappliedto the control of battery circuits, as for instance on anautomobile or in fact they may be used in various relations when it is` desired to group a series of switches controlling different circuits or any'number of circuits in a single compact group. As illustrated in Fig. 4 I have provided the supporting plate 10 with longitudinally extending i projections 26 0n its opposite ends. These projections are arranged to be received in corrugated strips 27 having shoulders 28 so located that the projections 26 may be re-v ceived 'between the same. These strips l27 are arrangedon the opposite ends of aseries of switches and the projections A26 on the switch plates are secured to the `strips as shown in Fig. 4. Thus it is seen that two or more switches may be arranged in a single unitary groupofa compact construction in which the individual switches may be rconnected'to a single circuit or a plurality of circuits if desired. In Fig. 5 I have shown a bottom view of the gang arrangement illustrated in Fig. 4. As illustrated in vthis gureafsingle conductor 29 may if demore of` the plates 10may` be cut. As illus-ll ments 34 or if it is desired to mount a series tion over the switches so that a unit similar sired connect thev four upper binding posts,

while if desired the lower binding posts may' be connected to separate conductors 30, 31,

:32 and`-33. `It is o f course to be understood that when .the switches are arranged in gangsthat a single face late may be readily applied 'to the gang, t e size of thevface plate varying with the number of switches.

lIn Fig. 6v I have illustrated a development or a blank from which if desired one or trated in Vthis figure a plate 10 may be formed by cutting off any one of the eleof theswitche's in gang relation, as for instance three, three of these elements 34 may be left in the blank formand placed in posi- 'to the unit illustrated in Fig. 4 may beI provided.' Thus it is seen that the necessity of providing separate plates 10 .and the strips 27 is-obviated', since the elements 344 in plate form lserve the `.two functions offthese separate parts. l v

While I have'in this application described onespecificform which my invention may.

assume in practice,and modified forms of the ,gang posltionmg means, my invention 1s not limitedto these particular forms, but isi capable of being incorporated into variousl other forms .and being widely modified.

.. Consequently I wish toinclude in this apvprising; in combination, a front plate hav plicationxall of these forms whichl fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim'as new and desire to secure by vLetters Patent is as vlollow's:-

1. A switch for concealed mounting `coming a projecting portion, an insulating base detachably secured to said plate land in spaced relation therewith, a switch mecha- Y nism arranged between said plate and base,

said mechanism having a single pushand i p-ull operating member' extending through said plate and. guided by said projecting portion, said mechanism having a part fixed to said base and fur-ther guiding said mem- 2. A switch for concealed mounting, comprising, in combination, a metallic front plate having projecting guides, an insulating base, ,mea-ns detachably securing said base and plate together, an open-ended casing between saidA base and said plate and arranged within said casing and including spacing the same apart, a switch mechanism stationary contacts onsaid base and ai push and pull operating member carried by said plate andlimited in movement thereby.

'3. In adevice of the character described,

in combination, an open casing includingan msulatingba-se. a front plate for said casing having projecting guiding means, aswitch mechanism having a reciprocable operating member extending through and carried by substantially -in alinement with said con-' said late.

ite'd in its movement by engagement with o vsaid struck-up'A portions, a basev provlded said plateand guiding means, a reciprocable contactor associated with Said member, a pair of stationary contacts fixed to and carried by said base and means to detachably secure said base and plate together with the switch mechanism parts in registering rela-V tlon. 1

v 4. In an electric switch, a base, contacts carried thereon, a plate having projectionsand contact, member, said members being limited' in movement in one direction by engagement with said base and said contacts and in the other direction by engagement with said plateand said projections, and a tubularreasing inclosing said switch mecha'- nism andclampedbetween said base and 6. n an electric switch, a plate. having an opening therein andV projections struck up from the same on either Side of said opening,

a reciprocating snap switch mechanism hav- -ing its operating member movablethrough sa-i'd opening and its operated memberlimwith a central recess to receive the end of said operating member, terminal contacts mounted on said base on opposite sides of said recess and engaged by said operated member, said terminal contacts having shanks extending through said base, and. terminal plates carried on the under side of said base andfixed to said Shanks.

7.' As an article of manufacture, a s up- 115 porting plate for electric switches comprising a4 sheet metal strip having upset portions projecting outside the plane thereof, said strip being composed of a plurality of partially severed unit sections, said upset portions being arranged to permit complete severance of said Strip between any two of said sections to provide a unitary plate for any desired number of said sections.

8. As an article of manufacture, a supporting plate for'electrie switches compris-V ing a sheet metal strip having a plurality of divided unit sections of equal dimensions and-similar characteristics each section having upset portions projecting at an acute 130 angle to the plane of said plate and arranged to permit severance of said platev between certain of said sections to provide unitary plates of a, desired size.

5 l 9.'In combination, an operting member having a, central bore therein, a cam member having a central bore therein through which said operating member extends, mea-ns for insulating said cam member from said 10 operating member, a, frame in which said operating member reciprocates, and a Spin dle carried by said frame and extending into the bore in said operating member.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two Wit- 1b nesses.

CHARLES Ji KLEIN. Witnesses: l

H. L. ROCKWELL,

GEO. HAYNEs 

